Rail bond terminal



' Aug. 25, 1936. J. FITZGIBBON ET AL 2,052,134

RAIL BOND TERMINAL Filed Jan. 21, 19ss Hgd.

lnvezdors:

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 Edward J. Fitzgibbon and John Statz, Mass.,assignors to The American Worcester, Steel and Wire Company of NewJersey, a corporation of a New Jersey Application January 21, 1335,Serial Nb. 2,312

Claims. (01.1'13-283) This invention relates to terminals in general andparticularly to rail bonds having terminals adapted for connection torailroad rails in which depressions are formed for this purpose. Other 5objects may be inferred.

A specific example of a rail bond embodying the features of theinvention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 showingone end of the bond with its terminal stud in a depression in the headof a railroad rail, and Figure 2 being a section taken from the line11-11 in Figure'l. I

More specifically, this rail bond includes a conductor l, a steelterminal 2 butt-welded to this 15 conductor, a steel stud 3 integrallyprojecting from this terminal, and a harder steel ring 4 encircling thestud 3 remotely from its ends. The

stud 3 has an annular recess 5 which receives the ring 4, and the outerperiphery of the latter is practically flush with the circumferentialsurface of this stud. This stud 3 is at least slightly longer than thedepression 6 in the rail head l is deep. This recess 5 is transverselyconcave and the inner periphery of the ring 4 is transversely convex,the two surfaces interfitting. The outer periphery of the ring 4 issharpened as at 4.

In use, the terminal is positioned against the head of the railroad rail1 with its stud 3 in the depression 6 formed in this rail. Hammering orpressing forces are then applied to the terminal opposite the stud 3 soas to force the latter into the depression I and against the latters'end. This causes the stud to expand slightly and forces the harder steelring 4 into the rail .6.

One of the chief advantages of this bond is'its structural soundness,the conductor I being buttwelded to the terminal 2. The use of theharder steel ring 4 enables a connection to be made by conventionalapparatus in spite of the fact that the stud 3 is made of solid steel.The steel from .which the ring 4 is made is harder than either the steelfrom which the railroad rail is made or that from which the terminal 2is made. Therefore, it is able to dig into the rail head I in the 45manner described. This action is further aided by the concave shape ofthe recess 5 and the convex lnner periphery of the ring 4. Furthermore,this ring 4 is split so as to enable it to expand I easily. I H so Weclaim: I

1. A terminal adapted for connection. with an article in which adepression is formed, said terremotely from its ends, 'said stud havingan anminal including a stud insertable into said depression and a ringencircling said stud remotely from its ends and having a sharpened outerperiphery, said ring being made of harder material than either said studor said article and said stud 5 being annularly recessed to receive saidring.

2., A terminal adapted for connection with an article in which adepression is formed,jsaid terminal including a stud insertable intosaid depression and a ring encircling said stud remotely 10 from itsends and having a sharpenedouter periphery, said ring being made ofharder material than either said stud or said article and said studbeing annularly recessed to receive said ring and being longer than saiddepression so that it expands when forced longitudinally therein.

3; A rail bond including a conductor, a steel terminal butt-welded tosaid conductor, a steel stud integrally projecting from said terminal,and a harder steel ring encircling said stud remotely from its ends,said stud having an annular recess for receiving said ring and the outerperiphery of the latter being practically flush with the circumferentialsurface of said stud.

4. A rail bond including a conductor, a steel terminal butt-welded tosaid conductor, a steel stud integrally projecting from said terminal, aharder steel ring encircling said stud remotely from its ends, said studhaving an annular recess for receiving said ring and the outer peripheryof the latter being practically flush with the circumferential surfaceof said stud, and said recess being transversely concave and the innerperiphery of said ring being transversely convex.

5. A rail bond including a conductor, a steel terminal butt-welded tosaid conductor, a steel [stud integrally projecting from said terminaland adapted to be expanded in a depression formed in a rail, a hardersteel ring encircling said stud nular recess for receiving said ring andthe outer periphery of the latter being practically flush with thecircumferential surface of said stud, and said recess beingtransverselyconcave and the inner periphery ,of said ring beingtransversely convex, the outer periphery of the latter being sharpenedto dig into the material of the rail when the said stud is expanded inthe depression.

\EDWARD' J. FI'IZGIBBON.

JOHN'STATZ.

